COAL GROVE — Jake Stephens threw a complete game, Saint Joseph's offense took advantage of its few scoring chances, and the Flyers topped the Symmes Valley Vikings 5-3 on Tuesday to win the Division 4 sectional final.
“I have to give our kids credit. We played well in the field, we ran the bases well and we took advantage of our scoring opportunities when we needed to the most,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant.
“Symmes Valley has a good team. They were SOC 2 champions and we beat them earlier 3-2. That was a good win for us.”
Stephens went the distance, giving up just 4 hits, striking out eight and walked six.
“Stephens threw the ball well. He was a little but I’m sure the weather didn’t help him grip the ball. But he hit his spots and threw strikes for the most part,” said Bryant.
The Flyers got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning.
Landon Rowe led off the inning with a double, Brady Medinger walked and Evan Balestra singled to drive home Rowe.
The Vikings (12-9) rallied in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
Ayden Taylor led the inning off with a double. After a line out to center field, Luke Niece singled to send Taylor to third.
Will Jones grounded to third but Taylor beat the throw home to score. After a strikeout, Zander Hurn singled to score Niece.
St. Joseph regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Wesley Neal reached on a dropped third strike, Carson Lyons walked and Carson Willis lined a singled to center to load the bases.
Stephens and Rowe followed with back-to-back walks to force home the tying and go-ahead runs.
The Flyers added to their lead in the fifth, as Darryn Harvey drew a walk and pinch-runner Blake Medinger went to third on a single by Wesley Neal and an outfield error.
After a strikeout, Willis walked to load the bases and a two-out wild pitch allowed Medinger and Neal to score and it was 5-2.
The Vikings wouldn't go away, as they attempted to mount a rally in the seventh inning.
Tanner Thompson drew a one-out walk, went to second on a ground out, and after Jones walked, a pair of wild pitches allowed Thompson to score.
But Stephens got the next batter to pop out to second baseman Brady Medinger and give the Flyers the sectional title.
Rowe was 1-3 with a double and RBI, Balestra 1-2 with an RBI, Neal 1-3 and Willis 1-2.
Symmes Valley pitchers Tanner Corn and Mason Stevenson combined to allow only 4 hits but walked 10 batters as well as striking out 10.
Turn was 2-3 with an RBI Niece 1-2 and Taylor 1-3 with a double.
Saint Joseph will now face top-seeded Leesburg Fairfield in the district semifinals on Saturday in Chillicothe at Veterans Stadium. The time of the game is still to be determined.
Sym. Valley 020 000 1 = 3 4 0
St. Joseph 100 220 x = 5 4 1
Tanner Corn, Mason Stevenson (5) and Will Jones. Jake Stephens and Drew Brown, Darian Barker (7). W-Stephens (IP-7.0, H-4, R-3, ER- 3, K-8, BB-6, WP-3). L-Corn (IP-3.0, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-5, BB-7, WP-2). Stevenson (IP-3.0, H-1, R-2, ER-2, K-5, BB-3, WP-1). Hitting-Symmes Valley: Luke Niece 1-2, Zander Hurn 2-3 RBI, Aydan Taylor 1-3 2B, Will Jones RBI; St. Joseph: Landon Rowe 1-2 RBI 2B, Evan Balestra 1-2 RBI, Wesley Neal 1-3, Carson Willis 1-2, Jake Stephens RBI.
Comments